Bill Clinton's Cocaine Habit

by J. Orlin Grabbe

In the mid-1980s when I began developing and
selling software to security firms and investment banks, I
quickly discovered that the use of cocaine was pervasive
in those environments. This was perhaps not surprising in
a context of relatively young people making a lot of
money in high-pressure jobs. But even in this free-for-all
atmosphere, it was easy to distinguish between those that
had a problem and those who didn't: two lines at a
weekend party was not a problem; two lines to start off
every working day was. (The day's consumption wouldn't
stop with the two lines.)

At the same time over in Arkansas, Governor Bill
Clinton did not have a problem, according to sources in an
excellent position to know. His cocaine use was
recreational, even if there was an occasional bash.

The same cannot be said regarding Clinton's coke
consumption today. Both White House and other
(medical) sources confirm that President Clinton uses
"five plus" lines of cocaine a day. I do not know how big
Clinton's lines are, but that amount would not be enough
to make him a menace to society if he were an average
Joe. But it is certainly enough to seriously affect his
judgment and make him, in the office of the Presidency, a
distinct risk to the security of the United States. It is also
enough to destroy his nasal septum, as was pointed out to
him on a recent visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital.

(Did coke-inspired hubris bring about all that talk
about having Craig Livingstone go the way of Vince
Foster? Or is someone else in the White House
responsible for this?)

Mr. President, it is time for you to resign for
unspecified "medical reasons" and to deal with your coke
habit away from the official business of the United States.

August 9, 1996, will be the 22nd anniversary of
the resignation of Richard Nixon. (He presented his
resignation to the Secretary of State at 11:30 a.m.,
according the handwritten notation of Henry Kissinger.)

Surely, Mr. President, you can outdo Mr. Nixon,
and make your resignation effective well before August 9.